A YOUNG man died a hero after trying to save his friend from drowning in a double tragedy.

Graduate Lewis Darroch went into the water off the coast of Anglesey when his pal got into difficulties in the sea next to rocks between Porth Trecastell and Cable Bay.

The 22-year-old then also got into trouble in the strong tide and the alert was raised by two friends who were on the rocks.

Lewis, from Valley, was airlifted from the sea by an RAF Valley search and rescue helicopter but was pronounced dead on arrival at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, late on Wednesday night.

His friend, named locally as Callum, was swept into the sea and a massive search was launched. He remained missing last night and was feared drowned as rescuers said they’d called off a search for his body.

Lewis, a former pupil at Ysgol Friars in Bangor, was the son of Alan Darroch, a well known Holyhead businessman and a treasurer with the Labour Party.

He had just graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in philosophy and was living at the family home on Anglesey.

Holidaymaker Leanne Sloan, from Cheshire, saw three young men and a woman arrive at the Porth Trecastell car park, between Rhosneigr and Aberffraw, at around 7pm on Wednesday. She said: “One minute they were laughing and joking, and then this happened.”

She added: “I saw them arrive and walk up the path on the side of the beach. An hour later I saw an ambulance arrive at the car park, which was the first we knew something was wrong.

“Then one of the young men and the girl came back. They were very upset, very emotional, she then just collapsed and they needed to be helped by the paramedics. It is just so sad.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Police were alerted shortly before 8.30pm that two males were in difficulties. It is not known how the first male entered the water. One male was recovered from the sea and flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd where he was pronounced dead.”

The search on Wednesday night involved four coastguard teams, Holyhead and Trearddur Bay lifeboats, and a search and rescue helicopter.

Coastguards and the police helicopter resumed a search yesterday. Tony Price, 2nd coxswain with Holyhead RNLI Lifeboat, said: “They did all they could. It is tragic it ended in these circumstances.”

Alwyn Rowlands, chairman of Ynys Môn Constituency Labour Party, said: “May I on behalf of the Ynys Môn CLP send our sincere condolences to the Darroch family, who have tragically lost their son Lewis. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

Anglesey’s Labour MP Albert Owen, a friend and colleague of Mr Darroch, said: “I was numb when I spoke to Alan on the phone this morning. On behalf of the Labour Party I would like to give our full condolences to the family and offer any support we can.”